The Walrus Says

By Jim Munro

told us that being born on Armistice Day prompted his father to observe, “Most trouble stops at an armistice, ours just started.”

Pete Drury ended up serving 27 years in the Army in both air defense and field artillery. The native islander served during both Korea and Vietnam. He said he always enjoyed Armistice Day as a kid. “Today there are slim turnouts for the holiday. Older folks who were living during the Second World War seem to be the only ones who come out. It’s too bad that’s the case. It’s a little sad.”

Steve Zweir says that Veterans’ Day is “something that should be continued. More effort should be put into it, more show of appreciation. It seems that everybody likes their materialistic ways of life but doesn’t want to pay the price.”

During World War II, Steve was a radar officer aboard an Army Air Corps B-25. He lost a brother at the Battle of the Bulge.

Tommy Lathan won’t be at the ceremony tomorrow at East Ferry. A member of the Army Special Forces in Vietnam, he’ll be in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., attending the first reunion of his company, the 414th Med Vac team.

Tom said, “I’m glad it’s (Veterans Day) being celebrated. We were the forgotten. I’m happy it continues. I hope people remember us.”

Alan Parfitt who was with the Marine Corp at Kuwait City during Desert Storm, says that on Veterans Day “we all should be together as one. It’s a time for us to get together and talk about the good and the bad.

“Some people don’t understand what it means to be in our shoes,” he said

The members of Jamestown Memorial Post 9447, VFW, and the Arnold Zweir Post 22, American Legion, are busy setting up their more than 80 American flags at Veterans Square.

The ceremony will be tomorrow, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Join them! No one should be forgotten.

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The Jamestown Community Chorus will join five other Rhode Island singing groups in concert Sunday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m., at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence.

Entitled RISings, the event is

the first of its kind and the brain

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11

Armistice Day in remembrance of the day a year earlier when World War I hostilities ceased at 11 a.m.

He said, “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations. . . .”

The origin of what is known today as Veterans Day is noted in ceremonies throughout the country tomorrow. In Jamestown, Jim McLoughlin who served in both World War II and Korea recites “In Flanders Field,” the most popular poem of the First World War. The work resulted in the poppy being adopted as the Flower of Remembrance. This year, Jim said, he may read a letter written by the war’s General John J. Pershing.

In 1954, following World War II and the ending of aggression in Korea, Congress changed the name from “Armistice” to “Veterans” and Nov. 11 became a day to honor American servicemen and women of all wars.

A little over 50 years later, Ed Morinho, who was a crew chief aboard an Army Air Corps B-17 during World War II, reminds us that veterans of that war are dying off at 1,000 a day. He said that the younger guys from the more recent wars are going to have to pick up the gauntlet and carry on.

The day almost was driven into oblivion in 1968 when Congress in its usual display of wisdom and looking for union votes included Veterans Day in the Uniform Holiday Bill so it could be observed as part of a three-day weekend. Seven years later, common sense prevailed and President Gerald R. Ford returned the day back to Nov. 11, thus preserving the historical significance of the date.

Bill McCarthy was a radarman on destroyers during World War II and stayed on in the Navy for 22 years (“I made $50 a day once a month.”). Bill is disturbed by the seemingly lack of interest in the day by the public. He said that people don’t know their history. “They’re getting bad news reports and don’t know what’s going on. They don’t respect the flag like veterans do,”

Bill will be 79 tomorrow. He child of Jamestown Community Chorus Director, B.J. Whitehouse.

In addition to the JCC, other groups performing are the Cranston Choral Company, Cumberland-Lincoln Community Chorus, Narragansett Bay Chorus, North Kingtown Community Chorus and the West Bay Chorale.

Reserved seats are $15 and $12. To order, call 272-4862. SING ON!!

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Hmmm. It was 70 degrees on Nov. 1. Must have something to do with global warming.

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“HONK!” will likely be Mary S. Wright’s last musical for the Jamestown Community Theatre. Look for the artistic director to step down from the theater group following the JCT’s spring presentation.

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Following a hectic and tiring production week, “HONK!” opens tomorrow night at 7 at the Community Center. Break a leg!!

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Does anyone know where we can get a helicopter for Bill Murphy?

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The warm fall weather may be a godsend to humans, but your pet may be downright miserable. That’s what Dr. Joshua Hatch of the Jamestown Animal Clinic says in his Pet Tip of the Week.

“The moisture and lack of cold weather this fall have meant that many pets that normally are flea free have been itching and scratching and many houses have been invaded by these little blood suckers. Please make sure your pet has a good flea preventative on (the topical spot on products from your veterinarian are some of the best).

“Also, vacuum and wash any beds, blankets, rugs, or couches where your pet usually relaxes and where flea eggs may have fallen off. You can also cut up a flea collar and put it inside your vacuum bag to aid in killing any fleas or eggs you suck up. Flea combs are available for young or old pets when the flea treatments might be too strong or if the animal has known reactions to the products. As always, consult your veterinarian with questions or with stubborn flea issues.” Thanks, Doctor! WOOF!

***

That was Dr. Hatch, loved by all critters.

Here is Dr. Hatch, philosopher.

“To err is human, to forgive canine.” — anonymous

“Life is like a dogsled team: if you aren’t the lead dog, the scenery never changes.” — a bumper sticker.

***

Nine-year-old Molly Tiexiera was the October winner of the R&R Gallery’s drawing. The third-grader won a Retired Beanie Babie Rocket with a Tag Saver which we are told is a little special.

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We don’t know about you, but in the event of a flu pandemic our civil rights would be at the bottom of our worry list. Just quarantine the ACLU.

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With all the demands placed on it in the last few months, the Salvation Army is in need of a boost to get through the upcoming holidays.

While other groups may advertise and seek constant publicity, the Salvation Army is there first, quietly doing its job.

Last year in Rhode Island, it provided child care to 413 children, served meals to 19,613 people, visited 10,000 people in nursing homes, sent 200 children to camp, provided energy assistance to 3,100 families, served 31,632 people (unduplicated), and provided disaster services to 37,106 people through mobile canteen.

The Salvation Army doesn’t give out T-shirts — only love and care.

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Let the island hunters take care of the island’s deer.

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Kudos to 8-year-old Finn Dwyer who was named Athlete of the Week in last Friday’s Newport Daily News. The Jamestown School third-grader was cited for his remarkable finish of 63rd out of 144 overall in the island’s JackO-Lantern Jog 5K road race.

Finn said his career goal is to be a policeman. He’ll have no trouble running down the bad guys.

***

This was sent by Bill Schaefer via Richard Botelho:

It is the veteran, not the preacher,

who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the veteran, not the reporter,

who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the veteran, not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the veteran, not the campus organizer,

who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the veteran, not the lawyer,

who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the veteran, not the politician,

who has given us the right to vote.

It is the veteran, who salutes the Flag. It is the veteran, who serves under the Flag.

***

Wednesday is the Frosty Moon or Beaver Moon.

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Join the veterans at East Ferry 11 a.m. tomorrow.

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We welcome your contributions to this column — birthdays, anniversaries and other good stuff. You can call us at 423-0383 or 829-2760, e-mail us at jtnwalrus@ hotmail.com, or drop the item off at the Jamestown Press office.